Strike Said to Kill a Top Al Qaeda Leader

By ERIC SCHMITT
NYT

WASHINGTON – The operational leader of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan was killed in an American missile strike in Pakistan’s tribal areas in the last two weeks, according to a statement from the terrorist group issued late Monday that American officials believe is correct.

The militant leader, Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, an Egyptian, was a top financial chief for Al Qaeda as well as one of the group’s founders, and was considered by American intelligence officials as terrorist organization’s No. 3 leader behind Osama bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, another Egyptian.

“His death will only be a severe curse by his life upon the infidels,” Al Qaeda said in a statement issued to jihadist Web Sites, which was translated by the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors statements by jihadists.

A United States official said late Monday that American intelligence analysts believed the statement from Al Qaeda was accurate. They said the death of Mr. Yazid marked a significant setback to Al Qaeda’s ability to help plan and support cross border attacks against American and allied forces in Afghanistan from its safe haven in Pakistan’s tribal areas.

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